Kerala becomes 1st Indian state to achieve 100% primary education

The state achieved the goal through its literacy programme Athulyam.

January 12, 2016 11:08 IST

Vice-President Hamid Ansari will honour Kerala on 13 January for becoming the first state in India to achieve 100% primary education.

Through its literacy programme Athulyam, which was carried out in two phases after being launched in March 2013, the state aimed at educating those who had been unable to complete their primary education up to fourth standard.

"Kerala has become the first state in the country to achieve total primary education. This has been achieved through the primary education equivalency drive of the state literacy mission â€” Athulyam. The equivalency programmes have proved a huge success and the ultimate objective is to achieve total Plus-Two education in the state," said Kerala's Education Minister PK Abdu Rabb in Thiruvanthapuram on Monday.

The programme was meant to provide primary school education to people aged between 15 and 50. In June 2015, 2.6 lakh people took the fourth standard equivalency exam and 2.2 lakh qualified. Examinations were held in 6,613 centres and the qualifying score was set at 30/75 in English and 20/50 in other subjects.

To identify pertinent recipients of the scheme, family registers maintained by Anganwadis were consulted and surveys were conducted under the continuing education programmes, reported Times of India.

Athulyam also focused on deprived sections such as the financially weak, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, physically and mentally disabled among others.